# White Dendronotus (*Dendronotus albus*) The White Dendronotus is a beautiful sea slug that lives in the ocean. Its soft, white body has lovely frills that look like flowers. These creatures are fun to find while exploring tide pools! - **Category:** [Invertebrate](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/invertebrate) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![White Dendronotus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dendronotus_albus.jpg&width=800) Photo: Steve Lonhart / MBNMS, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dendronotus_albus.jpg) ## Appearance The White Dendronotus is a delicate, moth-like insect with a snow-white body and large, translucent wings. Its antennae are uniquely branched, resembling tiny frosted tree branches, making it visually distinct from common white moths or butterflies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Mollusca - **Class:** Gastropoda - **Order:** Nudibranchia - **Family:** Dendronotidae - **Genus:** Dendronotus ## Interesting facts - Its name means "tree-backed," fitting its branched antennae! - The White Dendronotus glows under UV light! - They can smell flowers from a kilometer away! - They only live for about a month as adults! ## Special abilities - **Frosty Camouflage:** White Dendronotus can perfectly blend into snowy environments or white flowers because of its pale, frilly wings that mimic ice crystals. - **Branching Sensors:** White Dendronotus has intricate, tree-like antennae that help them detect faint pheromones from far away, even in windy conditions. - **Nocturnal Navigator:** White Dendronotus can fly silently through moonlit nights because of its soft, feathery wing scales that absorb sound, helping avoid predators. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-40 mm - **Size:** 12-20 mm - **Lifespan:** 25-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 8 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Feeds on sweet flower nectar to power its delicate flight. - **Age differences:** Larvae feed on specific leaf types before pupating. - **Primary Foods:** nectar, flower pollen, tree sap - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Little Brown Bat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/little-brown-bat) (*Myotis lucifugus*) — Bats hunt them as they fly at night. - **Depends on:** [White Spruce](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-spruce) (*Picea glauca*) — Adults forage on flowers from coniferous trees. - **Eats:** Northern Shrike (*Lanius borealis*) — This bird preys on insects caught on branches. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch sea creatures in tide pools to keep them safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify White Dendronotus? Compare body symmetry, shells, segments, legs, tentacles and how the animal moves. Invertebrates span many unrelated groups, so start with body structure. Invertebrate Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is White Dendronotus's wingspan? 25-40 mm ### How big is White Dendronotus? 12-20 mm ### How long does White Dendronotus live? 25-60 days ### How fast can White Dendronotus fly? 8 km/h ### What does White Dendronotus eat? Feeds on sweet flower nectar to power its delicate flight. ### Where is White Dendronotus usually found? Coastal areas ### How does White Dendronotus hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Mendocino and Headlands Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mendocino-and-headlands-historic-district) — US · Historic District ## More Invertebrate - [Coral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral) - [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Mecaphesa asperata*) - [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) - [Brown Recluse Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-recluse-spider) (*Loxosceles reclusa*) --- Source: [White Dendronotus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-dendronotus)